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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 503

A Great War casualty trio to Private C. Hunter, 26th Tyneside Irish Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was Killed in Action on 1 July 1916, the First Day of the Battle of the Somme

British War and Victory Medals (26-1473 Pte. C. Hunter. North'd Fus.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Hunter), extremely fine (3)

Charles Hunter was born at Prudhoe, Northumberland and enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. He was killed in action on 1 July 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The 26th (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Irish) formed part of 103rd Brigade, 34th Division and attacked La Boiselle on 1 July 1916 and had moved forward from the assembly trenches near Tara Redoubt. The war diary for the day noted 'A' and 'B' companies in front, 'C' and 'D' in reserve - 'men advanced as if on parade under heavy machine gun and shell fire'. Owing to the high casualties, the attack held up with small parties holding out in shell holes in No Man's land. The following day those still alive were relieved and went to Belle Vue Farm. A total of 489 casualties were recorded.

Sold together with the following archive:

(i)
Memorial Scroll (previously folded).

(ii)
Tyneside Irish Memorial Scroll presented to Mrs Hunter and issued on 3 November 1919.

(iii)
A copy of the new Testament given by the Y.M.C.A. and given to Hunter on 31 October 1915 at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, this housed in a postage box with Irish stamp and sent to a Mr Cahill in Morpeth.

(iv)
Various poppies for wear on remembrance Sunday and a lock of hair.

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Sold for
£550

Starting price
£250